Communication intermediating method, intermediating device, and communication device

ABSTRACT

Promoting efficient communication among users. Uses having a symbol of the same network resource are led to the same virtual space. Specifically, intermediary server  2  converting ID of merchandise icon and ID of virtual space for chat is provided. When user terminal  1  obtained a merchandise icon reports merchandise icon ID to the intermediary server  2 , ID of a virtual space corresponding to the merchandise icon is returned to the user terminal  1 . A user can share information on each merchandise by participating in this virtual space. Namely, users having a common purpose can chat with each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to network-based informationservices, e.g. online shopping services and information search services,provided on the Internet or other networks.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] Since utilization of the Internet is rapidly diffused, generalusers without expertise in computers routinely use network services suchas information search and online shopping. By diffusion of mobilephones, Internet access from the mobile phones is also rapidly diffused.Usually Internet access is done by using various web browser. However,users not accustomed to operating computers have difficulty operatingthe web browsers because the web browsers have many menus. Conversely,it is difficult to viewably display web pages on screens of the mobilephone with limited space.

[0005] Therefore various technologies for easily operating browsers e.g.IP3 are provided. IP3 allows embedding of merchandise information orsearch result in image data and extraction of the embedded information.Search services for searching image information such as Infoseek(Registered Trademark) are provided. Since search results are displayedby icons, users can select necessary information by intuition.

[0006] Taking the state into consideration, it is expected that iconsand images representing merchandise information (hereinafter referred toas merchandise icons) are distributed on the Internet.

[0007] Meanwhile, various shared-information types among users areprovided on the Internet. For example, mailing list and electronicbulletin board are shared-information types.

[0008] Software allowing text-based chat among users browsing the sameWeb Page e.g. “gooey” is also provided. Furthermore, systems allowingchat among users entering the same virtual electronic meeting room suchas IRC and “Web chat” are provided.

[0009] In case of “gooey,” by chatting with a user browsing the same WebPage, one can share information with the user having the same hobbiesand purpose, and therefore can effectively collect information and makefriends. However, in case of information share per Web Page, userscannot always do chat fitting for their purpose because purposes ofusers accessing a Web Page is broad. Similar problems occur in othershared-information types.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] An object of the present invention is to promote effectivecommunication among fellow users by leading, via network services, usershaving goals in common to the same information-sharing sites.

[0011] To solve the problems, the present invention allows easy share ofinformation by users who downloaded the same merchandise icon via anetwork. The present invention also allows effective and purpose-fittinginformation collection by providing an information-sharing place permerchandise icon.

[0012] Specifically, a first aspect of the present invention provides acommunication intermediating method for mediating communication of userterminals by sharing a virtual space on a network, comprising:

[0013] A: a step for giving the user terminals a symbol of a networkresource;

[0014] B: a step for preparing a correspondence table where anidentifier of the virtual space and identifiers of the symbol arecorrelated;

[0015] C: a step for providing an intermediating terminal that cancommunicate with the user terminals and can convert the identifier ofthe symbol and the identifier of the virtual space according to thecorrespondence table;

[0016] D: a step for sending the identifier of the symbol to theintermediating terminal from the user terminals;

[0017] E: a step for reporting the identifier of the virtual spacecorresponding to the symbol to the user terminals from theintermediating terminal; and

[0018] F: a step wherein the user terminals participate in the virtualspace according to the identifier of the virtual space reported andstart to communicate with another user terminal having the symbol.

[0019] This system is constructed by connecting user terminals, acommunication server and an intermediating terminal via a network. Thecommunication server provides a virtual space on a network. An e-mailserver on a mailing list, a www server on a Web chat, and an IRC serveron an IRC (Internet Relay Server) are examples of the communicationserver.

[0020] A symbol on a network is, for example, an icon representingmerchandise sold on a network or an icon showing search result on anetwork. Hereafter an item icon is explained as an example of thesymbol. A user terminal can own a merchandise icon by downloading itfrom a shopping site on a network or a homepage of a merchandise seller.

[0021] A user having a merchandise item pushes a prepared button if hewould like to communication with another user having the samemerchandise icon. For example, if a user would like to do Web chat, hepushes a Web chat button. Then an identifier of the merchandise icon issent to an intermediating terminal and Web chat URL corresponding to theidentifier is returned to the user terminal. This URL is of Web chat WebPage provided by a communication server. The user terminal accesses thereceived URL to start to chat with other users having the samemerchandise icon. Chat start processing is done by a WWW browserinstalled in the user terminal.

[0022] Incidentally, serial number with which a shopping site providerprovides a merchandise item and URL representing a site where an iconprovider stores a merchandise icon are examples of an identifier of amerchandise icon.

[0023] A communication intermediating method for mediating communicationbetween user terminals on a network, comprising:

[0024] a step for correlatively storing an identifier of a virtual spacewhere the user terminals participate and communicate with each other andan identifier of a network resource;

[0025] a step for receiving the symbol identifiers from the userterminals; and

[0026] a step for sending the virtual-space identifiers corresponding tothe symbol received according to the recorded data.

[0027] The intermediating terminal of the first aspect of the presentinvention uses this method.

[0028] A computer-readable recording medium having a communicationintermediary program for executing steps of:

[0029] a step for selectably displaying a symbol of a network resourceon a user terminal;

[0030] a step for receiving the identifier of the network resourceselected according to operation of the user terminal;

[0031] a step for obtaining an identifier of a virtual space correlatedto the received symbol identifiers according to a correspondence tablewhere the identifier of the network resource and the virtual-spaceidentifiers are previously correlatively stored; and

[0032] a step for sending the obtained identifier of the virtual spaceto the user terminal.

[0033] Herein a computer-readable recording medium is preferably afloppy disk, hard disk, semiconductor memory, CD-ROM, DVD, MO, etc.

[0034] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides anintermediating device for mediating communication between user terminalson a network, comprising:

[0035] a correspondence table correlatively storing an identifier of avirtual space where the user terminals participate and communicate witheach other and an identifier of a symbol of a network resource;

[0036] a first reception means receiving the identifier of the symbolfrom the user terminals; and

[0037] a first transmission means sending the identifier of the virtualspace corresponding to the received symbol according to thecorrespondence table.

[0038] This device corresponds to the intermediating terminal of thefirst aspect of the present invention.

[0039] A fifth aspect of the present invention provides the intermediaryof the second aspect of the present invention, wherein thecorrespondence table correlatively stores the identifier of the virtualspace, the identifier of the symbol, and level of interest in thesymbol.

[0040] In this device, the first reception means receives the identifierof the symbol and the level of interest and the first transmission meanssends to the user terminals the identifier of the virtual spacecorresponding to combination of the received identifier of the symboland the level of interest according to the correspondence table.

[0041] Interest level is, for example, “having some interest, but notintending to buy,” “would like to buy,” “have no interest,” etc.

[0042] The intermediating device of the fourth aspect, wherein thecorrespondence table correlatively stores the virtual-space identifiers,the symbol identifiers, and similarity level of user preference to thesymbol; the first reception means receives from the user terminals thesymbol identifiers and predetermined preference data representing thesimilarity level of user preference; the first transmission meanscalculates similarity level of user preference according to thepreference data and sends to the user terminal an identifier of thevirtual space corresponding to combination of the received symbolidentifiers and the similarity level of user preference according to thecorrespondence table.

[0043] Similarity level of user preference is calculated by a usualstatistical method from set out of merchandise icons on a display, timemerchandise icon is lately moved, time of saving merchandise icons.

[0044] The intermediating method of the sixth aspect, wherein thepredetermined preference data includes positional information of thesymbol displayed on user terminals.

[0045] Positional information is a coordinate representing position ofmerchandise icon in a screen. For example, if a merchandise icon isdisplayed on a near side of a user in a user terminal, theintermediating device determines that similarity level is high.

[0046] A communication method used by a user terminal on a network,comprising:

[0047] a step for obtaining a symbol of a network resource;

[0048] a step for sending a symbol identifiers to a predeterminedinformation terminal that can convert an identifier of a virtual spacewhere the user terminal communicates with another user terminal and thesymbol identifiers;

[0049] a step for receiving an identifier of a virtual spacecorresponding to the symbol from the information terminal;

[0050] a step for participating in the virtual space according to thevirtual-space identifiers and starting to communicate with other userterminals having a common symbol.

[0051] The user terminals of the first aspect of the present inventionuse the communication method.

[0052] A ninth aspect of the present invention provides acomputer-readable recording medium having a communication program usedby user terminals on a network for executing steps of:

[0053] a step for obtaining a symbol of a network resource via a networkand selectably displaying them;

[0054] a step for sending a symbol of a network resource selected by auser to an intermediating device;

[0055] a step for receiving an identifier of a virtual spacecorresponding to an identifier of a network resource sent according to acorrespondence table of the intermediating device where a symbol of anetwork resource and a virtual space are previously correlativelystored; and

[0056] a step for connecting to the virtual space according to thereceived identifier of the virtual space and starting chat.

[0057] A communication device for communicating on a network,comprising:

[0058] an obtaining means obtaining a symbol of a network resource;

[0059] a communication means participating in a virtual space on thenetwork to communicate another communication terminal;

[0060] a second sending means sending a symbol identifiers to apredetermined information terminal that can convert an identifier of thevirtual space and the symbol identifiers;

[0061] a second receiving means receiving an identifier of a virtualspace corresponding to the symbol from the information terminal; and

[0062] a connection means starting communication with other userterminals having a common symbol according to the virtual-spaceidentifiers.

[0063] This communication method is used by the user terminals of thefirst aspect of the present invention.

[0064] The communication device of the tenth aspect further having apreference table where a symbol obtained by the communication device andlevel of interest in the symbol are correlatively stored, wherein thesecond sending means sends a symbol identifiers and the level ofinterest to the predetermined information terminal.

[0065] The level of interest is similar to the level of interest of thefifth aspect of the present invention.

[0066] The communication device of the tenth aspect further having apreference table where a symbol obtained by the communication device andpredetermined preference data representing similarity level of userpreference to the symbol are correlatively stored, wherein the secondsending means sends a symbol identifiers and the preference data to thepredetermined information terminal.

[0067] The similarity level of user preference is similar to thesimilarity level of the similarity level of user preference of the sixthaspect of the present invention.

[0068] The communication device of the tenth aspect, wherein thepredetermined preference data includes positional information of thesymbol displayed on the user terminal.

[0069] A merchandise presentation method working with a chat systemallowing exchange of messages among multiple user terminals by sharing avirtual space on a network, comprising:

[0070] selectably presenting to a user terminal a symbol prepared foreach merchandise to identifiably display the merchandise via a network;

[0071] obtaining and sending to a user terminal an identifier of avirtual chat space which is made to correlate to an identifier of asymbol and then stored when receiving an identifier of a symbol reportedaccording to user select; and

[0072] connecting the user terminal to the virtual chat space to startto exchange messages with other user terminals.

[0073] A fifteenth aspect of the present invention provides amerchandise information exchange support method, comprising:

[0074] a step for preparing a correspondence table where merchandise andvirtual chat space for exchanging information on the merchandise arepreviously correlated;

[0075] a step for presenting to a user terminal a symbol prepared foreach merchandise to identifiably display the merchandise via a network;

[0076] a step for identifying a symbol of a merchandise selected by auser terminal;

[0077] a step for obtaining and reporting to the user terminalinformation for identifying a virtual chat space correlated to relevantmerchandise according to the correspondence table; and

[0078] a step for starting exchange of information on the relevantmerchandise among user terminals.

[0079] A communication support method, comprising:

[0080] a step for preparing for each merchandise a chat space virtuallyinstalled on a network which invites users interested in relevantmerchandise and a correspondence table where merchandise and a chatspace corresponding the merchandise are correlatively stored;

[0081] a step for selectably presenting to a user terminal a symbolprepared for each merchandise to identifiably display the merchandisevia a network;

[0082] a step for identifying a symbol of merchandise selected by a userterminal; and

[0083] a step for obtaining information for identifying a virtual chatspace correlated to relevant merchandise according to the correspondencetable to issue command for inviting relevant user terminal to relevantvirtual chat space and starting communication between users havinginterest in common merchandise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0084]FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram according to a firstaspect of the present invention;

[0085]FIG. 2 is an conceptual explanatory diagram of data in icon DB;

[0086]FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of merchandiseicon data format;

[0087]FIG. 4 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of data in preferenceDB;

[0088]FIG. 5 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of data incorrespondence DB;

[0089]FIG. 6 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of data in user DB;

[0090]FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing flow of communicationintermediary processing according to the first aspect of the presentinvention;

[0091]FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of data sentto an intermediary server;

[0092]FIG. 9 is a display example of a merchandise icon and a button forchat;

[0093]FIG. 10 is an overall configuration diagram of a communicationintermediary system according to a second aspect of the presentinvention;

[0094]FIG. 11 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of data in connectionsituation DB;

[0095]FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing flow of icondistribution promoting processing according to the second aspect of thepresent invention;

[0096]FIG. 13 is a display example of a disclosed icon;

[0097]FIG. 14 is another display example of a merchandise icon and abutton for chat; and

[0098]FIG. 15 a conceptual explanatory diagram of data in correspondenceDB.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0099] Outline of the Present Invention

[0100] As described above, users browsing a common Web Page can shareinformation because connection among users can be established by usingURL (Uniform Resource Locator) of a Web Page as an identifierrepresenting a site for information share, in other words, a virtualspace for communication. Therefore the inventors come to conceiveleading users having a symbol of the same network resource to the samevirtual space to allow chat between users having a same purpose. In thefollowing example, information of online sales merchandise is explainedas a network resource.

[0101] However, it is difficult to previously attach an identifier suchas URL to a merchandise icon which is downloaded and saved in a userterminal. Even if it can be attached, there is a problem. Namely, aservice provider selling merchandise on a shopping website often wouldlike to change URL of a merchandise icon the service provider provides.The service provider can change URL of a merchandise icon on a shoppingwebsite, but cannot change URL attached to a merchandise icon that hasalready been downloaded in a user terminal.

[0102] Therefore the present invention provides an intermediary server.The intermediary server converts an identifier for identifying amerchandise icon and an identifier of a virtual space for chat. When auser terminal that obtained a merchandise icon reports an identifier ofthe merchandise icon to the intermediary server, an identifier of avirtual space corresponding to the merchandise icon is returned to theuser terminal. Users can share information per merchandise byparticipating in the virtual space. Furthermore, even if correspondencebetween a merchandise icon and a virtual space varies, users having amerchandise icon can be led to an appropriate virtual space according tonewest correspondence.

[0103] Conversation is difficult to be established among users with adifferent interest level of a merchandise icon even if they downloadedthe same merchandise icon. Therefore the present invention provides userinterface (UI) at the user terminal for reporting level of interest inthe merchandise to the intermediary server according to set out of themerchandise icon. Sending the level of interest extracted by UI and anidentifier of the merchandise icon to the intermediary server allowsinformation share among users having a similar purpose. In the followingembodiments, level of interest is any of the three steps “interesting(having some interest),” “purchase (would like to purchase),” and “trashbox (lost interest).” Furthermore, the present invention allows userschatting on an appropriate virtual space to disclose and copymerchandise icons. With this, distribution of merchandise icons arepromoted. In addition, the merchandise icons are broadly diffused amonginternet users and merchandise icon providers can do effectiveadvertisement and marketing.

[0104] First Embodiment

[0105] Configuration

[0106] (1) Overall Configuration

[0107]FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a communicationintermediary system according to the first aspect of the presentinvention. This system is configured by connecting user terminal 1,intermediary server 2, communication server 3 and shop server 4 via theInternet.

[0108] The user terminal 1 shares a virtual space with other userterminals via the communication server 3 and can chat with each other.The user terminal 1 can also download merchandise icons (symbol ofnetwork resource) provided by the shop server 4.

[0109] The intermediary server 2 converts an identifier of a merchandiseicon into an identifier of a virtual space for chat and reports theresult to the user terminal 1.

[0110] The communication server 3 provides a virtual space for the userterminal 1 to chat. A mailing list server, WWW server, and IRC serverare examples of the communication server 3.

[0111] The shop server 4 provides merchandise icons in a shopping siteon the Internet 5. Information on merchandise sold on the Internet andan identifier of a virtual space are attached to the merchandise icons.Incidentally, the merchandise icons are provided by service providersproviding a shopping site on the shop server 4 or merchandise providersselling merchandise on the shop server 4.

[0112] The following exemplifies a Web Page on Web chat as a virtualspace for chat. In this case, URL is used as an identifier of thevirtual space.

[0113] (2) User Terminal

[0114] The user terminal 1 has icon DB 11, preference DB 12, acquisitionmodule 13, preference module 14, URL request module 15, connectionmodule 16, display module 17, communication client 18, WWW browser 19,and communication processing module 110.

[0115] Of the above-mentioned functions, the communication client 18 isfor participating in a virtual space on a network to communicate withother user terminals. The communication client 18 is, for example, a WWWbrowser, IRC client for IRC, or e-mail device for mailing list.

[0116] The WWW browser 19 has a function accessing a shopping siteprovided by the shop server 4 and obtaining it.

[0117] The acquisition module 13 is a function for downloadingmerchandise icons from the shop server 4 and the display module 17 is afunction displaying downloaded icons as contents of a shopping cart of auser. Normally, these functions are realized by executing Flash, JAVAApplet or other plug-in program in a user terminal when a shopping siteis accessed by the WWW browser 19.

[0118] The following explains functions of respective parts. Firstexplains information stored in icon DB 11 and preference DB 12. FIG. 2is a conceptual explanatory diagram of information stored in the icon DB11. Icon IDs (identifiers of symbols) and addresses of icon data arestored in the icon DB 11. “Icon ID” is an identifier for uniquelyidentifying a merchandise icon. This identifier is usually attached toeach merchandise icon by a provider of the shop server 4. “Icon data”describes an address indicating where merchandise icon data are stored.The merchandise icon data includes image data of the merchandise icon,merchandise information and the like.

[0119]FIG. 3 is an example of a format of merchandise icon data. Themerchandise icon data includes icon definition, icon appearanceattribute, merchandise-related information, push information, andfunction. “Icon definition” describes a provider of a merchandise icon,expiration date, etc. “Icon appearance attribute” describes icon sizeand an address of an image file. “Merchandise-related information”describes merchandise name, price, etc. “Push information” describes anaddress of a server providing newest information in relation to theicon. This system describes a function of a button displayed with amerchandise icon. This system describes display of a button for startingchat (hereinafter referred to as chat button) and a command issued whena user presses the button (refer to the below-mentioned FIG. 9).

[0120]FIG. 4 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of information storedin the preference DB 12. As described below, information stored in thepreference DB 12 is used for calculating level of user preference tomerchandise icons. In the preference DB 12, icon ID, section (level ofinterest), coordinate value, set out time, save time are stored. “IconID” is similar to the case of the above-mentioned icon DB 11. “Section”describes predetermined value representing level of user interest inmerchandise. In this example, “interesting,” “purchase,” or “trash box”is described as a predetermined value. “Coordinate value” describesposition of a merchandise icon in a shopping cart displayed with displaymodule 17. “Set out time” describes date when a merchandise icon islastly operated. “Save time” describes newest save time of a shoppingcart. Hereafter coordinate value, set out time, and save time arereferred to as preference data.

[0121] As described above, the acquisition module 13 downloadsmerchandise icon from the shop server 4 and stores it in the icon DB 11.

[0122] The preference module 14 obtains preference data for an obtainedmerchandise icon from the display module 17 and stores it in thepreference DB 12.

[0123] The URL request module 15 sends icon ID, section, and preferencedata to the intermediary server 2 according to instruction of a user andobtains an identifier of a virtual space corresponding to themerchandise icon.

[0124] The connection module 16 activates communication client 18 andstarts communication on a virtual space obtained from the intermediaryserver 2.

[0125] As described above, the display module 17 displays an obtainedmerchandise icon and a shopping cart on a display. Furthermore, thedisplay module 17 obtains the above-mentioned preference data from anoutput part such as a display (not shown in the figure) according touser operation.

[0126] The communication processing module 110 sends and receives datavia the Internet 5.

[0127] (3) Intermediary Server

[0128] The intermediary server 2 has correspondence DB 21, user DB 22,DB access module 23, conversion module 24, and communication processingmodule 25.

[0129]FIG. 5 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of information storedin the correspondence DB 21. In the correspondence DB 21, icon ID,section, preference level (similarity level of preference), and virtualspace ID are correlated. Namely, combination of icon ID, section, andpreference level determines which virtual space a user is led to.Incidentally, at least icon ID and virtual space ID are stored in thecorrespondence DB 21. Section and preference level may be stored in thecorrespondence DB 21 according to needs.

[0130] “Icon ID” and “section” are as mentioned above. “Preferencelevel” represents how a user prefers a merchandise icon. In thisexample, ten levels are set. Preference level is calculated according topreference data sent from the user terminal 1 with icon ID. “Virtualspace ID” describes an identifier for identifying a virtual space forchat, which is URL in this example. URL of a Web Page in Web chat, achannel name in IRC, and an e-mail address in mailing list are examplesof virtual space ID.

[0131]FIG. 6 is a conceptual explanatory diagram stored in the user DB22. User ID and personal information are stored in the DB 22. “User ID”is an identifier for identifying a user in this system. Communication IDfor identifying a user on a communication system independent of thissystem may be used as user ID. For example, an e-mail address on amailing list or a nickname on IRC is substituted for user ID.“Individual information” is predetermined information on a user and iscommunication ID in this example. Besides this, user name, address, sex,age, hobby, etc. can be stored according to needs.

[0132] The DB access module 23 updates the correspondence DB 21 and theuser DB 22.

[0133] The conversion module 24 converts icon ID into virtual IDaccording to the correspondence DB 21. The conversion module 24 alsocalculates preference level according to preference data.

[0134] The communication processing module 25 sends and receives datavia the Internet 5.

[0135] Processing

[0136]FIG. 7 explains flow of communication intermediary processing inthis system. To simplify the explanation, the following takes a casethat conversation among user terminals is performed by Web chat.

[0137] The user terminal 1 downloads a merchandise icon from the shopserver 4 by the acquisition module 13 and obtains icon ID and icon data(#1). In this system, a “Chat” button for starting chat is included inicon data (refer to below-described FIG. 9). The downloaded merchandiseicon are stored in the icon DB 11 (#2). The preference module 14 storessection, coordination, and set out time in the preference DB 12 (#2)according to the user operation on the display.

[0138] A user presses the “Chat” button if he would like to chat withanother user about merchandise after obtaining a merchandise icon. TheURL request module 15 receives instruction of starting chat by pressingthe button (#11). The URL request module 15 reads icon ID, section, andpreference data from the preference DB 12 (#12). Furthermore, the URLrequest module 15 requests URL of a Web Page from the intermediaryserver 2 via the communication processing module 110 (#13). FIG. 8 showsa configuration of data sent to the intermediary server 2. The requestincludes icon ID, section, and preference data in addition to a requestcommand “GETURL.”

[0139] The intermediary server 2 determines URL with reference to thecorrespondence DB 21 (#15) when receiving the above-mentioned request(#14). The conversion module 24 determines a level from among theabove-mentioned ten levels according to preference data by a statisticalmethod. The conversion module 24 determines URL by a combination of iconID, section, and preference level. The conversion module 24 sends thedetermined URL to the user terminal 1 (#16).

[0140] The user terminal 1 receives URL from the intermediary server 2with the URL request module 15 (#17). Furthermore, the connection module16 activates the communication client 18 to pass the above-mentioned URLto the communication client 18 (#18). With this, communication amongusers having the same merchandise icon is started.

[0141] In this example, the connection module 16 obtains communicationID of a user from the communication client 18 and reports it to theintermediary server 2 (#19). The intermediary server 2 storescommunication ID of each user in the user DB 22. By reportingcommunication ID to the intermediary server 2 from the user terminal 1,communication ID is automatically stored in the user DB 22.

[0142] Screen Example

[0143]FIG. 9 is a display example of a shopping cart and a merchandiseicon. In this example, sections “interesting,” “purchase,” and “trashbox” are displayed on the shopping cart. A user arranges a merchandiseicon in an appropriate section according to level of interest in themerchandise. In this example, a “public zone” is provided for a user todisclose merchandise icons to his chat partner. Disclosure ofmerchandise icons will be described in a below-mentioned secondembodiment of the present invention.

[0144] The “Chat” button 91 is displayed for each merchandise icon.Pressing the button allows a user to chat with another user having thesame merchandise icon.

[0145] Second Embodiment

[0146] A second embodiment of the present invention shows an example ofproviding “public zone” for a shopping cart as shown in FIG. 9 anddistributing merchandise icons among users.

[0147] Configuration

[0148]FIG. 10 is an overall configuration diagram of a communicationintermediary system according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention. In this system, icon request module 111 is attached to theuser terminal 1 and connection condition DB 26 is attached to theintermediary server 2. Other components and functions are similar to thefirst embodiment.

[0149] The icon request module 111 accepts “icon request” requesting amerchandise icon disclosed by a chat-partner user and sends/receives themerchandise icon via the intermediary server 2. To accept the requestthe icon request module 111 previously displays a function button. Theicon request module 111 sends a disclosed merchandise icon according toicon request of another user terminal. Furthermore, the icon requestmodule 111 displays a merchandise icon disclosed by another userindependently of chat contents.

[0150]FIG. 11 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of information storedin the connection condition DB 26 of the intermediary server 2. User IDand connection condition are stored in the DB 26. “Connection condition”describes a value representing whether a user terminal connects to theintermediary server 2. Herein the value is “ONLINE” or “OFFLINE.”

[0151] In addition to the above-mentioned function, the conversionmodule 24 mediates transmission of the above-mentioned object requestand merchandise icons according to connection condition of a userterminal.

[0152] Processing

[0153]FIG. 12 shows flow of distribution promotion processing ofmerchandise icons in this system. User A (user terminal A) and user B(user terminal B) are participating in the same URL and chatting witheach other. Chat contents and participant user list are displayed oneach user terminal with the communication client 18.

[0154] User A selects user B from the participant user list and pressesan “obtain icon” button (#31). This button is displayed by the iconrequest module 11. The icon request module 111 accepts icon request bypress of the button (#32) and sends the request to the intermediaryserver 2 (#33). The icon request includes communication ID of user B.

[0155] The intermediary server 2 determines whether user terminal B isbeing connected to the intermediary server 2 with reference to theconnection condition DB 26 when it receives the above-mentioned request(#34). If it is determined that user terminal B is not being connectedto the intermediary server 2, an error message such as “user B iscurrently offline” is returned to user terminal A. Otherwise a disclosedmerchandise icon is requested from user terminal B (#37).

[0156] Upon receiving the above mentioned request (#38), user terminal Bsends merchandise icon ID disposed in a public zone and its icon data tothe intermediary server 2 (#39).

[0157] User terminal A receives the above-mentioned data via theintermediary server 2 and displays the merchandise icon independently ofchat contents (#40 and #41). User terminal A accepts instruction ofwhether to obtain the merchandise icon by a user (#42). The instructionis “not obtain,” user terminal A performs processing such as deletingdisplay of a merchandise icon (#43). If the instruction is “obtain,”user A passes icon ID and icon data to the acquisition module 13 andinstructs saving of the merchandise icon (#44).

[0158] Screen Example

[0159]FIG. 13 is a display example by the icon request module 111. Inthis figure, window 131 is displayed by the communication client 18.Chat contents is displayed on window 132. Participant user list 133 andinput field 134 are also displayed on the chat window 131.

[0160] When a user “nick03” is selected from the participant user list133 and an obtain icon button 136 is pressed, object window 135 isdisplayed. The window 135 displays merchandise icons received from aterminal of user “nick03.” If “get” is selected in the window, icon IDand icon data of a merchandise icon are stored in icon DB 11.

[0161] Use of the present invention allows easy and efficientcommunication by users because users having a common interest is led toa communication space on a network.

[0162] From the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, the foregoing and other objects, features,aspects and advantages of the present invention will become readilyapparent to those skilled in the art.

[0163] Another Embodiment

[0164] (A) In the above-mentioned embodiments, only “Chat” is correlatedto each merchandise icon as a communication system. However, multiplecommunication system may be selectable for a merchandise icon. Forexample, multiple communication button is displayed in a pulldown menuformat for a merchandise icon “PDA” in FIG. 14. If a button is selectedfrom the menu, the communication client 18 corresponding to the selectedcommunication system is activated and communication starts.

[0165]FIG. 15 shows a conceptual explanatory diagram of informationstored in correspondence DB 21 in this case. In the correspondence DB21, multiple virtual spaces according to types of communication systemsare correlated to icon ID. In this figure, three virtual spaces e.g. URLfor Web chat, channel name for IRC, and e-mail address for mailing listare correlated to icon ID “Icon-v101-200vl.”

[0166] A type of a virtual space to be correlated to each merchandiseitem can be changed in the correspondence DB 21. For example, only URLfor Web chat is correlated to a merchandise icon and URL and channelname are correlated to another merchandise icon. This correlation may beset according to needs of merchandise providers i.e. providers ofnetwork resources and providers of shopping sites.

[0167] (B) The present invention comprises a computer-readable recordingmedium having a program for executing the above-mentioned methods of thepresent invention. Herein a computer-readable medium is preferably afloppy disk, hard disk, semiconductor memory, CD-ROM, DVD, MO, etc.

[0168] While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustratethe present invention, to those skilled in the art it will be apparentfrom this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be madeherein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims. Furthermore, the foregoing description of theembodiments according to the present invention is provided forillustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention asdefined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communications intermediating method formediating communications user terminals carry out sharing virtual spaceson a network, the communications intermediating method: furnishingnetwork resource symbols to the user terminals; setting up in advance acorrespondence table in which identifiers for the virtual spaces andidentifiers for the symbols are correlated; providing an intermediatingterminal enabling communication with the user terminals, and based onthe correspondence table enabling conversion between the symbolidentifiers and the virtual-space identifiers; sending the symbolidentifiers from the user terminals to the intermediating terminal; andreporting from the intermediating terminal to the user terminals thevirtual-space identifiers that correspond to the symbols; wherein basedon the reported virtual-space identifiers the user terminals participatein the virtual spaces and initiate communication with other userterminals having the same symbols.
 2. An intermediating device formediating communications among user terminals on a network, theintermediating device including: a correspondence table correlativelystoring identifiers for virtual spaces, where the user terminalsparticipate mutually to communicate, with identifiers for networkresource symbols; a first reception means for receiving the symbolidentifiers from the user terminals; and a first transmission means fortransmitting to the user terminals the virtual-space identifiers thatbased on said correspondence table correspond to the received symbolidentifiers.
 3. The intermediating device set forth in claim 2, wherein:said correspondence table correlatively stores the virtual-spaceidentifiers, the symbol identifiers, and levels of interest in thesymbols; said first reception means receives from the user terminals thesymbol identifiers and the interest levels; and said first transmissionmeans transmits to the user terminals the virtual-space identifiers thatbased on said correspondence table correspond to the received symbolidentifiers and to the received interest levels in combination.
 4. Theintermediating device set forth in claim 3, wherein: said correspondencetable correlatively stores the virtual-space identifiers, the symbolidentifiers, and level of similarity in user preference for the symbols;said first reception means receives from the user terminals the symbolidentifiers and predetermined preference data indicating the level ofsimilarity in preference; said first transmission means computes levelof similarity in preference based on the preference data and transmitsto the user terminals the virtual-space identifiers that based on saidcorrespondence table correspond to the received symbol identifiers andto the received level of similarity in preference in combination.
 5. Theintermediating device set forth in claim 4, wherein the predeterminedpreference data includes positional information on the symbols displayedon user terminals.
 6. A computer-readable recording medium on which isrecorded a communications program for use by user terminals on anetwork, the computer-readable recording medium characterized byincluding: a step of acquiring via a network, and selectably displaying,network resource symbols; a step of transmitting to an intermediatingdevice identifiers for user-selected network resource symbols; a step ofreceiving identifiers for virtual spaces that correspond to identifiersfor network resource symbols transmitted based on a correspondence tablein the intermediating device correlatively storing in advance networkresource symbols with virtual spaces; and a step of connecting to agiven virtual space based on identifiers in received virtual spaces, andinitiating chat.
 7. A merchandise information exchange support methodcharacterized by: preparing a correspondence table in which merchandiseand virtual chat spaces for exchanging information on the merchandiseare correlated in advance; presenting to user terminals via a networksymbols prepared per merchandise item in order to display themerchandise identifiably; identifying merchandise symbols selected inuser terminals; acquiring and reporting to the user terminalsinformation for identifying virtual chat spaces correlated based on thecorrespondence table to given merchandise; and enabling in a one userterminal exchange of information on the given merchandise with otheruser terminals to begin.
 8. A communications intermediating method formediating communications user among terminals on a network, thecommunications intermediating method: correlatively storing identifiersfor virtual spaces, where the user terminals participate mutually tocommunicate, with identifiers for network resource symbols; receivingthe symbol identifiers from the user terminals; and transmitting to theuser terminals the virtual-space identifiers that based on the storeddata correspond to the received symbol identifiers.
 9. Acomputer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a communicationsintermediating program for mediating communications among user terminalson a network, the computer-readable recording medium on which isrecorded a communications intermediating program for executing: a stepof selectably displaying on user terminals network resource symbols; astep of receiving identifiers for network resources selected in responseto operations on the user terminals; a step of acquiring identifiers forvirtual spaces correlated to received network resource symbolidentifiers based on a correspondence table made by correlativelystoring in advance identifiers for network resource symbols withidentifiers for virtual spaces; and a step of transmitting the acquiredvirtual-space identifiers to the user terminals.
 10. A communicationsmethod for use by a user terminal on a network, the communicationsmethod comprising: acquiring network resource symbols; transmittingidentifiers for the symbols to a predetermined information terminalenabling conversion between identifiers for the virtual spaces andidentifiers for the symbols, wherein communication with other userterminals is carried out; receiving from the information terminalvirtual-space identifiers corresponding to the symbols; participating,based on the virtual-space identifiers, in the virtual spaces andinitiating communication with other user terminals having the samesymbols.
 11. A communications device for communicating on a network, thecommunications device comprising: acquisition means for acquiringnetwork resource symbols; communication means for participating invirtual spaces on the network to carry out communications with othercommunications devices; a second transmission means for transmittingidentifiers for the symbols to a predetermined information terminalenabling conversion between identifiers for the virtual spaces and thesymbol identifiers; a second reception means for receiving from theinformation terminal the virtual-space identifiers that correspond tothe symbols; and connection means for initiating, based on thevirtual-space identifiers, communication with other communicationsdevices having the same symbols.
 12. The communications device of claim11, further comprising a preference table in which symbols acquired bythe communications device of claim 11 and level of interest in thesymbols are correlatively stored; wherein said second transmission meanstransmits to the predetermined information terminal the identifiers forthe symbols and the level of interest.
 13. The communications device ofclaim 11, further having a preference table in which symbols acquired bythe communication device of claim 11 and predetermined preference dataindicating level of similarity in user preference for the symbols arecorrelatively stored; wherein said second transmission means transmitsto the predetermined information terminal the symbol identifiers and thepreference data.
 14. The communications device as set forth in claim 12,wherein the predetermined preference data includes positionalinformation on the symbols displayed on communications devices.
 15. Amerchandise presentation method cooperating with a chat system to enableexchange of messages mutually among multiple user terminals sharingvirtual spaces structured on a network, merchandise presentation methodcomprising: selectably presenting to a user terminal a symbol preparedfor each merchandise to identifiably display the merchandise via anetwork; obtaining and sending to a user terminal an identifier of avirtual chat space which is made to correlate to an identifier of asymbol and then stored when receiving an identifier of a symbol reportedaccording to user selection; and connecting the user terminal to thevirtual chat space to start to exchange messages with other userterminals.
 16. A communications support method, characterized by:preparing for each merchandise a chat space virtually installed on anetwork which invites users interested in relevant merchandise and acorrespondence table where merchandise and a chat space correspondingsaid merchandise are correlatively stored; selectably presenting to auser terminal a symbol prepared for each merchandise to identifiablydisplay said merchandise via a network; identifying a symbol ofmerchandise selected by a user terminal; and obtaining information foridentifying a virtual chat space correlated to relevant merchandiseaccording to said correspondence table to issue command for invitingrelevant user terminal to relevant virtual chat space and startingcommunication between users having interest in common merchandise.